Toy lighthouse



A. A. MARTINEZ April 23, 195-3 TOY LIGHTHOUSE Filed Jan. 18, 1950' 4 She9ts s et 1 ndrew A. Mam-n e:

INVENTOR.

April 2 1953 A. A. MARTINEZ 2,636,314

TOY LIGHTHOUSE Filed Jan. 18, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Andrew A. Mei r inez I IN ENTOR.

60 f 4 BY 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 TOY LIGHTHOUSE A. A. MARTINEZ 2 m, "m mm a A. M a W w 9n n 6 .a H A Filed Jan. 18, 1950 April 28, 1953 Patented Apr. 28, 1953 lT'ED STATES. PATENT OFFICE 2,636,314: TOY LIGHTHOUSE Andrew A. Martinez, Orleans, La. Application January 18, 1950, SerialNo. 139,185

major portions thereof, while suitable conductive metal is used for the operative electrical circuits It is an object of this invention to provide a highly amusing device for use. as a toy by children of any age. v

A further object of this invention is to provide atoy which may be readily disassembled and reassembled to continuously maintain the. intertest of those playing with the toy.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a battery powered illuminating source which may be rotated in the tower of the lighthouse to simulate the flashing light of an actual light house.

Yet another object of theinvention is to provide means for selectively retaining the portions of the lighthouse together in an operative posi tlon, the means additionally providing the function of transmitting current through an operative electrical circuit. I I I Yet another object of the invention is to provide a prime mover for rotating a shaft on which the illuminating source is. 'mounted, theshaft being used as one of the conductors for trans? mitting current tothe light source.

A further object of the invention is to provide switch means actuated by the motor for selectivelyflashing' the rotating illuminating source mounted on the shaft. I

Still further objects of the invention reside in the provision of a toy lighthouse that is strong, durable, highly attractive in appearance, highly romantic in its appeal to children, and otherwise capable cfbeing' used as an ornamental display.

These, together with the various ancillary ob jects of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this toy lighthouse, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the ac' companying drawings, byway of example only, wherein:

I Figure I is a perspective view of the toy light- '2 Claims. (Cl. 46 -12) house showing most'clearly its outward ornamental appearance;

I Figure 2 is: a vertical sectional view as taken along line 2-2 of Figure 3;

Figure-'3 is a horizontal sectional view as taken along line 3--3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view as taken along line 4-4 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional detail of the commutator member as taken along line 5-5 in Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view as taken along line 6-6 in Figure 2;

v. Figure 7 is an enlarged verticalsectional detail as taken along line 1-1" in Figure 6:

Figure 8' is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuits used in the present invention; and

Figure 9 is a vertical section through the contact plates taken substantially on the plane'indicated by the line 9+9 01' Figure 3. I

, With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals. designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral ['0 generally designates the toy lighthouse comprising the present invention. The toy lighthouse [0 comprises a plurality of sections which are mounted on the base [2. The platform [4 is detachably secured to thebase and includes a lower section It of the lighthouse tower proper. Detachably secured to the lower section 16 of the lighthouse is. an upper section it to which is secured the capping section 28. Bolts 22 are used to secure the platform it tothe base 12. In addition to other means,v latches zd are used to secure thev upper section [a of the lighthouse to the lower section it. The top 2b of the lighthouse is held in place by the interlock. 25 between the various members engaging the top. I I

Referring now more particularly to Figures 2 and 3 it will be. seen that the base I! is formed with a. plurality of partition walls28 which are used to divide the base into a series of separate compartments. Furthermore, these partition walls 28 strengthen the base and rigidity it. In the side walls of the base l2, a substantially large aperture is formed through whichdrawer 30 is adapted to be selectively emplaced. Latch means 32. are provided for holding the drawer in proper position. The drawer 3!]. is adapted to contain a plurality of flashlight batteries 34 which are preferably positioned in three rows of three batteries each so as to provide the desired current and voltage for actuating the illuminating sources of the invention. Also mounted in the drawer 30' are a pair of single pole", single throw switches 36 and 38, together with a single pole, double throw switch 40. The function of the switches will be readily understood with reference to the circuit diagram shown in Figure 8 and in view of the structure of the device, to be further explained. A plurality of flashlight bulbs are used as signal means for indicating the operative position of the switches and these signal means are designated by reference numeral 42. The inner wall 44 of the drawer 30 has mounted thereon a plurality of circular conductors 46 which have attached thereto electrical conductors 48 which may be the contacts of the flashlight batteries 34 or other conductors. A plurality of cylindrical casings 50 are connected to the contact plates 46 and a spring pressed piston pin 52 is continuously urged by springs 54 outwardly of the member 46. The spring 54 also acts as an electrical conductor closing the circuit between the contact plate 46 and the contact pin 52. .When the drawer 30 is emplaced within the base I2, the pins 52 will contact contact plates 56 mounted on a partition wall 28. Connected to the conductor plates 56 are a series of conductors which are adapted to transmit the electrical current to a series of spring contacts 58 mounted in the upper portions of the base and adapted to contact contact plates 60 mounted on the bottom surface of the platform I4. The contact plates 60 are similar to the contact plates 56 and are preferably made of a circular disk of copper or like, substance.

A clock motor 62 is secured to the base I2 and is adapted to rotate a shaft 64 which is detachably secured thereto. Gear 66 is also driven by the motor 62 which, through idler gear 68, drives gear I to which is-secured a switch actuating.

of the lower section I6 of the tower, terminatesin an internally threaded coupling member 82..

On the floor 84. formed adiacent the upper por-.'

tion of the lower part I6 of the tower is an electrically conductive commutator ring 86 having a.

wiring clip 01 attached thereto. A commutator brush member, generally indicated by reference numeral 88, is secured by a bracket 89. to the shaft I00. The commutator ring 86 is connected through conductor 90 to one of the contact plates 60, whence it is connected to the power source 34. The commutator brush member 80 which consists of a brush 92 mounted in an insulative casing 94 and continuously urged by spring 96 into engagement with the ring 06 transfers the current received through ring 86 to an electrically conductive strip 98 which is secured to the electrically conductive rod I00 which is threadedly connected to the coupling member 82. Secured to the upper end of the rod I00 is an electrically conductive threaded coupling member I02 in which another electrically conductive shaft I04 is detachably secured. Mounted on the electrically conductive shaft I04 is an electrically conductive reflector I06 in which a flashlight bulb I0'I is emplaced with the threaded side contacts in intimate engagement. The upper portion of the shaft I04 is secured to a coupling I08 of insulat- 4 ing material. A conductor III connects the base contact I09 of the flashlight bulb I01 with a slip ring I I4 mounted on the shaft end I I5 secured in the insulating coupling I08. The slip ring H4 is in contact with the conductor IIO which is detachably connected to conductor I 22 by spring clip H2. The conductor I22 is secured to one of the contact plates 60. Access to spring clip H2 is provided through a hinged door M1 in the upper portion I8 of the tower.

The upper end of the shaft II5 carrying the slip ring H4 is journaled in a bracket II? which the brush member 88, the shaft I04, the reflector. I06, the conductor III, the slip ring. II4, the. conductor I I0, the. clip IE2, the conductor I 22,; another contact plate and through conductor;

I24, to the contact H8; and when the switch 40 is thrown to abut against contact I26, a circuit is completed through, conductor I28 which is connected to a contact I29 in proximity to a strip I30 which is intermittently depressed by rod I2:

to intermittently complete an electric circuit.

The current between conductor I22 and contact.v

strip I 30 is transmitted by. conductor I32.

The further electrical system of the device includes a search light I34 which is operatively con; nected to the batteries 34 by suitable conductors. The search light I34 is securely attached to a. door I36 in the tower base I 6 and the door [36 is capable of being pivoted outwardly of; the a tower. A house I40 is also formed and securedtq the platform I4. The house is formed with a detachable roof I42 which has secured therein a reflector I44 in which .a bulb I46 may be conveniently operatively mounted. Operatively conv nected to the batteries through switch 38 are a pair of spring contacts I48. which complete an operative electrical circuit to the bulb I46. this manner, a suitable house light is provided for the house I40, which may be switched on and.

vided to further pictorially represent a functional lighthouse. Palm trees, such as those designated.

byreferencc numeral I52 which. may be made from suitable thermal setting plastics or may be readily. made from tin foil which may be lacquered or enameled to representthe actual leaves. and foliage-of a palm tree are detachablysecur'ed. in recesses in the platform I 4. Row boats, fishing nets, anchors, life preservers, and other picturesque items are secured to the house, light?- house and platform in a haphazard and picturesque manner. Thus, there is provided a highly ornamental toy which may be readily taken. apart and put together by any. interested child.

Since, from the foregoing, the construction and advantages of this toy lighthouse are readily ap parent, further description is believed to beun-Q necessary.

'However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a. consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not intended to some 5. limit the "invention -to 'the' preclse-embodiment shown and -.de;'sc ribed, but all suitable modffications and equivalents may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

v Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A toy lighthouse comprising a'base, a sectionalizedtower mounted on said base, a power source, a motor secured in said base, a platform secured on said base, a first section of said tower secured on said platform, a first shaft section connected in driven relationto said motor to be rotated thereby, a floor in said first section of said tower, said floor and said platform having aligned apertures, said shaftextending through said apertures, a slip ring on said floor concentric with said shaft, a second tower section do tachabfy secured on said first tower section, a second and third shaft section mounted in said Second tower section, a. coupling rigidly connecting said, shaft sections together, a brush holder rigidly mounted on said secondshaft section, a brush in said holder, resilient means urging said brush into contact with said slip ring, said second and third shaft sections being electrically conductive, a light source secured on said third shaft section, electric circuit means including said brush, said brush holder, said electrical-1y conductive shaft sections, and said slip ring connecting said power source to said light source.

2, A toy lighthouse comprising a base, a sectionalized tower mounted on said base, a power source, a. motor secured in said base, a platform secured on said base, a first section of said tower secured on said platform, a first shaft section connected in drivenrelation tosaid motor to be rotated thereby, a floor in said first section of said towensaid floor and said platform having aligned apertures, said shaft extending through said apertures, a slip ring on said floor concentric with said shaft, a second tower section detachably secured on said first tower section, a second shaft section mounted in said second tower section, a coupling rigidly connecting said shaft sections together, a brush holder rigidly mounted on said second shaft section, a brush in said holder, resilient means urging said brush into contact with said slip ring, said second shaft section being electrically conductive, a further conductive shaft section conductively coupled to said second-shaft section, a light source secured on said further shaft section, electric circuit means including said brush, said brush holder, said electrically conductive shaft sections, and said slip ring, connecting said power source to said light source, said circuit means including a switch mounted adjacent said motor, a motor driven switchactuator rod, said actuator rod intermittently ac-tuating said switch to energize said light source.

3. A toy-lighthouse comprising a base, a sectionalized tower mounted on said base, a power source, a motor secured in said base, a platform secured on said base, a first section of said tower secured onsaid platform, a first shaft section connected in driven relation to said motor to be rotated thereby, a floor in said first section of said tower, said floor and said platform having aligned apertures, said shaft extending through said apertures, a slip ring on said floor concentrio with said shaft, 2, second tower section detachably secured on said first tower section, a second and third shaft section mounted in said second tower section, a coupling rigidly connecting said shaft sections together, a brush holder rigidly. mounted in conducting relaationmixsstd second shaft section, a brush in said holder,, re-' silieut. means urging said. brush into contact with said slip ring, said secondand. third shaft secitems being electrically conductive, a light source secured on said third shaft section, electric citcuit means, including said brush, said brush holder, said electrically conducting shaft sections, and said slip ring, connecting said power" source to. said Eight source.

4-. Atoy lighthouse. comprising. a base, a sectionalized tower mounted on said base, apower source, amotor secured in said base, a platform secured on said base, a first section of said tower secured on said platform, a. first shaft section connected in driven relation to said motor-to be rotated thereby, a floor insaid first section of said tower, said floor and said platform haying" aligned apertures, said shaftextending through said apertures, a slip ring on said floor concen trio with said shaft, a second towersectionide ta'chably secured on said firsttower sectiomsa, second and third shaft section mounted'in'said second tower section, aicoupling' rigidly connectw ing said'shaft sections together, a brush" holder rigidly mounted-in conducting relation on said second shaft section, a brush in said holder, re?- silient means urging said brush into contact withv said slip ring, said second and third shaftsec-- tions being electrically conductive, alight source secured on said third shaft section, electric "air cuit means, including said brush, said brush holder, said electrically conducting shaft sections, and said slip ring, connecting said power source to said light source, a conductor independent of said shaft, said conductor including a section in said first tower section and a section in said second tower section and a clip detachably securing said sections together adjacent the junction between said tower sections.

5. A toy lighthouse comprising a base, a sectionalized tower mounted on-said base, a power source, a motor secured in said base, a platform secured on said base, a first section of said tower secured on said platform, a first shaft section connected in driven relation to said motor to be rotated thereby, a fioor in said first section of said tower, said floor and said platform having aligned apertures, said shaft extending through said apertures, a slip ring on said floor concentric with said shaft, a second tower section detachably' secured on said first tower section, a second shaft section mounted in said second tower section, a coupling rigidly connecting said shaft sections together, a brush holder rigidly mounted on said second shaft section, a brush in said holder, resilient means urging said brush into contact with said slip ring, said second shaft section being electrically conductive, a further conductive shaft section coupled to said second shaft section, a light source secured on said further shaft section, electric circuit means including in series circuit relation said second and. said further sections of said shaft, said brush, said slip ring, and said brush holder, connecting said power source to said light source, said circuit means including a contact, a strip in. proximity to said contact, an actuating rod, said motor being operatively connected to said rod for intermittently urging said strip into engagement with said contact.

6. A toy lighthouse comprising a base, a platform mounted on said base, partitions in said base dividing said base into a plurality of separate compartments, a drawer slidably received in 7 one of said compartments, a plurality. of batteries received in said drawer, a motor mounted in' another of said compartments, a sectionalized lighthouse tower mounted on said platform, a first tower section including a'xfioor, said floor and said platform having aligned apertures therein, a shaft including a first shaft section mounted in said apertures, a driving connection between said motor and said shaft, a second tower section detachably mounted on said first tower section, a second shaft section in said second tower section, said second shaft section being coupled to said first shaft section, said second shaft section being of electrically conducting material, a light source mounted on said shaft and rotated thereby, circuit means including said second shaft section supplying energy from said batteries to said light source.

7. A toy lighthouse comprising a base, a platform mounted on said base; partitions in said base dividing said base into a plurality of sepa-. rate compartments, a drawer slidably received one of said compartments, a plurality of bat-- teries received in said drawer, a motor mounted in another of said compartments,-a sectionalized lighthouse tower mounted on said platform, a first tower section including a fioor, said floor and said platform having aligned aperturestherein, a shaft including a first shaft section mounted in said apertures, a driving connection between said motor and said shaft, a second tower section detachably mounted on'said first tower section. a second shaft section in said second tower section, said second shaft section being coupled to said first shaft section, said second shaft, section being of electrically conducting material, a light source mounted on said shaft and rotated thereby, circuit means including said second shaft section supplying energy from said batteries to said light source, a separable connection between said'batteries and said circuit means including a contact plate mounted on one of said partitions, a fixed contact secured on the end ofsaid drawer said batteries making contact with said fixed contact, a cylindrical casing mounted on said fixed contact, a piston pin in said cylinder, spring means urging said pin into contact with said plate, said spring forming the electrical contact between said fixed contact and said pin.

ANDREW A. MARTINEZ.

References cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

